Compliance
Can Caregivers Give Medication? Reminders vs. Administration
Non-medical caregivers can remind, and in many states assist, but administering medication needs a nurse or nurse delegation. Four states' rules and how to write your policy.
Which states allow nurse delegation in home care?
Whether a registered nurse can delegate tasks like medication administration to an unlicensed caregiver in the client's home, by state. Pick a state for the conditions and the rule.
Last reviewed October 17, 2026
| State | Delegation in the home | Medication administration |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Limited | not allowed |
| Alaska | Yes | can be delegated |
| Arizona | Yes | unclear |
| Arkansas | Limited | not allowed |
| California | Limited | assistance/reminders only |
| Colorado | Yes | unclear |
| Connecticut | Limited | via certified medication aide |
| Delaware | Limited | not allowed |
| District of Columbia | Yes | via certified medication aide |
| Florida | Limited | can be delegated |
| Georgia | Limited | can be delegated |
| Hawaii | Yes | unclear |
| Idaho | Yes | can be delegated |
| Illinois | Yes | can be delegated |
| Indiana | — | assistance/reminders only |
| Iowa | Yes | unclear |
| Kansas | Yes | can be delegated |
| Kentucky | Yes | unclear |
| Louisiana | Limited | can be delegated |
| Maine | Yes | can be delegated |
| Maryland | Yes | via certified medication aide |
| Massachusetts | Limited | not allowed |
| Michigan | Yes | unclear |
| Minnesota | Yes | can be delegated |
| Mississippi | Limited | not allowed |
| Missouri | Limited | not allowed |
| Montana | Yes | unclear |
| Nebraska | Yes | via certified medication aide |
| Nevada | Yes | unclear |
| New Hampshire | Yes | can be delegated |
| New Jersey | Yes | can be delegated |
| New Mexico | Limited | via certified medication aide |
| New York | Limited | can be delegated |
| North Carolina | Yes | assistance/reminders only |
| North Dakota | Yes | can be delegated |
| Ohio | Yes | assistance/reminders only |
| Oklahoma | — | unclear |
| Oregon | Yes | can be delegated |
| Pennsylvania | — | assistance/reminders only |
| Rhode Island | Limited | via certified medication aide |
| South Carolina | Limited | not allowed |
| South Dakota | Yes | can be delegated |
| Tennessee | — | unclear |
| Texas | Yes | can be delegated |
| Utah | Yes | unclear |
| Vermont | Yes | unclear |
| Virginia | Yes | can be delegated |
| Washington | Yes | can be delegated |
| West Virginia | Limited | can be delegated |
| Wisconsin | Yes | can be delegated |
| Wyoming | Yes | unclear |
How Caregiver Scheduling handles this
Caregiver credentials and training records, including delegation training, are stored with expiry dates in Caregiver Scheduling, and a caregiver without a required credential can't be assigned. See credential tracking.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
A registered nurse assigns a specific nursing task, for a specific client, to a trained unlicensed caregiver, and stays responsible for supervising it. States decide which tasks can be delegated and in which settings.
Reminders and handing a client their own medicine are usually allowed. Administering medication generally needs a license or nurse delegation, and the rules vary by state.
Some states allow it with training and RN supervision; others exclude injections. Check the state page.
Related guides
Compliance
Companion Care vs. Personal Care: What's the Difference for Your Agency?
Companion care is hands-off help; personal care is hands-on help with ADLs. The line decides your license, training hours, insurance and rates.
These free tools are made by the team behind Caregiver Scheduling, caregiver scheduling software for home care agencies.
Simple pricing
From $199 /month
Up to 10 caregivers on Starter, 50 on Growth.
More than 50 caregivers? We'll put together a custom Scale plan for your agency.